Hybrid training is all the rage right now as everyday athletes abandoned singular goals like pure strength or endurance to build bodies capable of sprinting, heavy lifting, and multi-sport endurance. At the peak of this movement stands Aimee Cringle, an Isle of Man athlete who claimed the title of fittest woman on Earth at the CrossFit Games in California. As the first Brit to win the competition since 2013, Cringle’s performance across five days and 20 events proved that contemporary hybrid athletes can dominate across swimming, cycling, sprinting, and heavy lifting.
How Aimee Cringle Won the CrossFit Games
Cringle secured her victory by demonstrating proficiency across a schedule of 20 events. Her testing included a 20-loop bike race, a 500m sprint completed in just over one minute and 20 seconds, a barbell squat exceeding 135kg, an obstacle course completed while walking on her hands, and a victory in a 7,200m trail race featuring aggressive climbs. According to coach Will Kane of the training camp Brute Strength, Cringle’s preparation utilizes undulated scheduling that cycles between heavy strength work, low-intensity aerobic conditioning, and gymnastic skill development.
Pro Tip: Boost Your VO2 Max
Cringle utilizes low-skill, high-effort intervals to supercharge her maximal oxygen uptake. A typical session involves working for three minutes followed by three minutes of rest across high-output movements like the SkiErg, box jump-overs, and rowing machines, repeated for multiple rounds.
The Training Strategy Behind Elite Hybrid Fitness
Cringle spends up to six hours a day in the gym, but that time is carefully structured. While her background as a champion 400m hurdler in her teens gave her a natural advantage in running and endurance, her coach Fraser McKenzie targeted her weaknesses in squatting, pull-ups, muscle-ups, and thrusters. By building strength, Cringle made complex metabolic conditioning movements feel easier. Recovery remains structured, with Cringle taking Thursdays and Sundays off from CrossFit to prioritize zone 2 road cycling, sleep, and tissue repair.
Nutrition and Core Strength for Everyday Athletes
Rather than innumerable sit-ups, Cringle relies on functional movements such as Copenhagen planks, suitcase carries, and gymnastic holds like the L-sit to build torso stability. Her nutritional approach balances protein intake with dietary flexibility. As a Grenade athlete, she consumes protein bars and shakes daily while also indulging her self-described foodie tendencies with Mexican cuisine and her own granola brand, Cringle Crunch.
Did You Know?
Holding an L-sit for 20 seconds is considered doing well, according to Aimee Cringle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Aimee Cringle?
Aimee Cringle is an athlete from the Isle of Man who won the CrossFit Games in California, becoming the first Brit to claim the title since 2013.
How many hours does a CrossFit Games champion train?
According to Cringle, she spends up to six hours a day in the gym, though her training splits time between heavy lifting, gymnastic skill work, and low-intensity aerobic conditioning rather than constant high-intensity effort.
What is a hybrid training workout?
Hybrid training combines multiple fitness disciplines—such as strength training, running, gymnastics, and endurance sports—into a single routine to build a versatile and resilient physique.
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